The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reflect on the depth of our transformation from focus on our gain from the material and selfish accomplishments in life to freedom and full life in “putting on Christ”.
The reading from Ecclesiastes asks what profit have we from all the toil which we toil under the sun?*
* [1:2] Vanity of vanities: a Hebrew superlative expressing the supreme degree of futility and emptiness.
* [1:3] Under the sun: used throughout this book to signify “on the earth.”
Psalm 90 declares God’s Eternity and human frailty.
* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17).
The reading from the Letter to the Colossians praises the New Life in Christ through mystical death and resurrection.
* [3:8–10] Put…away; have taken off; have put on: the terms may reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ, here translated into ethical terms.
The Gospel of Luke includes the saying of Jesus against greed and the parable of the rich fool.
* [12:13–34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Lk 12:16–21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Lk 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Lk 12:33–34).
* [12:21] Rich in what matters to God: literally, “rich for God.”
Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that today's readings offer the grace of a powerful re-alignment of our lives - not focused on "what is on earth," but on our life which is "hidden with Christ in God."
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:13-21 comments about why Jesus warned the man against greed. He could see that it was motivating him far more than love was.
Friar Jude Winkler shares his comments on the texts today.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, begins this week’s meditations by reflecting on our “fall from innocence” as a necessary part of the process of transformation.
Our daily contact with the material world as we seek to acquire our perceived needs may be informed by openness to the Spirit, who prompts us to make choices that aid our transformation as followers of Christ.
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